Communication apparatus, communication method, and storage medium

Abstract

A communication apparatus includes a management unit configured to manage communication between a communication device and a base station via a relay unit, and an update unit configured to, based on an update of first logical information used for access between the relay unit and the base station, update second logical information used for access between the communication device connected to the relay unit, and the base station.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A network management system for managing communication between a base station and a User Equipment; (UE); the network management system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 one or more memories storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors causes the functions of the following units to be performed: 
 a management unit configured to manage communication between a UE and a first base station relayed via a relay communication apparatus; and 
 an update unit configured to, based on receiving information updating first logical connection information used by the relay communication apparatus for accessing communication between the relay communication apparatus and the first base station; 
 (i) update second logical connection information stored at the network management system, the second logical connection information used for accessing the communication between the UE and the first base station, and 
 (ii) initiate a process for updating third logical connection information stored at the UE, the third logical connection information corresponding to the second logical connection information and used, by the UE, for accessing the communication between the UE and the first base station relayed via the relay communication apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UE connects to the relay communication apparatus using a first wireless communication medium, and the relay communication apparatus connects to the base station using a second wireless communication medium. 
     
     
       3. The network management system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a recognition unit configured to recognize a change in cell information relating to the residence cell of the relay communication apparatus,
 wherein the update unit updates, based on the recognition of the change in the cell information by the recognition unit, the second logical connection information stored at the network management system together with an update of the first logical connection information stored at the network management system. 
 
     
     
       4. The network management system according to  claim 3 , wherein the change in the cell information is caused by a change of the base station of the residence cell of the relay communication apparatus resulting from a movement of the relay communication apparatus from a first residence cell associated with the first base station to a second residence cell associated with a second base station. 
     
     
       5. The network management system according to  claim 3 , wherein the change in the cell information is caused by an increase or decrease in a number of UEs included within a same cell. 
     
     
       6. The network management system according to  claim 3 , wherein the change in the cell information is caused by an operation for updating unique information regarding UEs included within a same cell. 
     
     
       7. The network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the management unit includes:
 a first control unit configured to perform access control of each cell that is capable of communicating with the first base station; 
 a first management unit configured to manage a movement status of the UE; and 
 a second management unit configured to manage a communication session for the UE via the relay communication apparatus. 
 
     
     
       8. The network management system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a transition unit configured to, in a case where the third logical connection information is updated while the UE is in a power saving state, cause the UE to transition to a normal communication state. 
     
     
       9. The network management system according to  claim 8 , wherein the transition unit causes, based on transmission of an incoming call message to the UE, the UE to transition to the normal communication state. 
     
     
       10. The network management system according to  claim 8 , wherein the transition unit urges, in a case where the transition unit recognizes that communication using a wireless communication circuit by the UE, for which the third logical connection information is updated, is not performed for a predetermined period, the UE to transition to the power saving state. 
     
     
       11. The network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UE is a wireless online game apparatus. 
     
     
       12. The network management system according to  claim 1 , wherein the UE provides a service by combining content information stored in the UE itself and information acquired via a wireless communication circuit. 
     
     
       13. An User Equipment (UE) comprising:
 a control unit configured to control communication with a base station via a relay device using a first wireless communication medium; 
 a storage unit configured to store logical information used for a connection with the base station, the information updated via the relay device in a case where the base station that is connected to the relay device changes from a first base station to a second base station due to a movement of the relay communication apparatus; and 
 a switching unit configured to, in a case where the switching unit recognizes disconnection of communication with the relay device using the first wireless communication medium, switch to communication with the base station using a second wireless communication medium based on the logical information stored in the storage unit. 
 
     
     
       14. A communication method at a communication apparatus that relays communication between a base station and a User Equipment, UE, the communication method comprising:
 controlling communication between a UE and a first base station relayed via a relay communication apparatus; and 
 based on receiving information updating first logical connection information used by the relay communication apparatus for accessing communication between the relay communication apparatus and the first base station; 
 (i) updating second logical connection information stored at the network management system, the second logical connection information used for accessing the communication between the UE and the first base station, and 
 (ii) initiating a process for updating third logical connection information stored at the UE, the third logical connection information corresponding to the second logical connection information and used, by the UE, for accessing the communication between the UE and the first base station relayed via the relay communication apparatus. 
 
     
     
       15. A relay communication apparatus capable of relaying communication between a base station and a User Equipment (UE), comprising:
 a control unit configured to control (i) communication with first base station using a first wireless communication medium and (ii) communication with the UE via a second wireless communication medium; 
 a storage unit configured to store first logical connection information used for a connection with a base station, the first logical connection information updated in a case where the base station connected to the relay device changes from the first base station to a second base station due to a movement of the relay communication apparatus, 
 wherein the relay communication apparatus sends the first logical connection information relating to the second base station to a network management system in connection with such updating of the first logical connection information; and 
 a transmission unit configured to forward information received from the network management system to the UE, in order to update second logical connection information stored at the UE, the second logical information corresponding to the first logical information. 
 
     
     
       16. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the UE connects to the relay communication apparatus using a first wireless communication medium, and the relay communication apparatus connects to the base station using a second wireless communication medium. 
     
     
       17. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising a monitoring unit configured to recognize a change in cell information relating to the residence cell of the relay communication apparatus, wherein the update unit updates, based on the recognition of the change in the cell information by the recognition unit, the first logical connection information stored at the relay communication apparatus. 
     
     
       18. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the change in the cell information is caused by a change of the base station of the residence cell of the relay communication apparatus resulting from a movement of the relay communication apparatus from a first residence cell associated with the first base station to a second residence cell associated with a second base station. 
     
     
       19. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the change in the cell information is caused by an increase or decrease in a number of UEs included within a same cell. 
     
     
       20. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the change in the cell information is caused by an operation for updating unique information regarding UEs included within a same cell. 
     
     
       21. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the UE is a wireless online game apparatus. 
     
     
       22. The relay communication apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the UE provides a service by combining content information stored in the UE itself and information acquired via a wireless communication circuit.